Shoe shining machine



Oct. 7, 1947. E. A. THIELEN SHOE SHINING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EH. ThieZen ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. A. THIELEN SHOE SHINING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1945 INVENTOR E H. Thi elan ATTORNEYS Rigs. .a

Oct. 7, 1947.

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SHINING MACHINE Eugene A. Thielen, Clarksburg, Calif.

Application March 19, 1945, Serial No. 583,623

2 Claims. l

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel shoe shining machine operative to shine shoes on the feet of the wearer; such machine being power driven and coin-controlled for commercial use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a power driven shoe shining machine which includes a driven shaft, and a rotary polish applying brush and a rotary shoepolishing buffer mounted on the shaft in adjacent but spaced relation; the above assembly being disposed within a protective hood having an access opening therein through which a person can project a shoe into contact with the brush or buffer, selectively.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power-driven shoe shining machine which lncludes a rotary brush for the application of polish to shoes, and unique rotary means cooperating with the brush at the back to supply polish to said brush upon rotation of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly elfective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shoe shining machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the machine, mainly in section.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3 3 of Fig, 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises a nat, substantially rectangular base I adapted to seat on the oor and including, along its forward edge, a relatively narrow, upwardly inclined ramp 2; this ramp being useful, as will hereinafter appear, to assure proper entry of shoes into the machine for shining.

A horizontal shaft 3 is disposed some distance above the base I inwardly of but parallel to its forward edge; said shaft being supported at opposite ends by means of bearing brackets 4 disposed adjacent but short of opposite ends of the base I.

Between the bearing brackets 4 the shaft 3 is fitted with a rotary brush 5 having relatively long bristles as shown. Adjacent the rotary brush 5 the shaft 3 is fitted with a rotary builer 6 which includes a backing of cushion material 1, such as sponge rubber or the like, disposed beneath a facing of bufng material 8. The rotary buier 6 is somewhat concave from end to end thereof, to assure conformity with the shoe to be polished.

An electric motor 9 is mounted on the base I rearwardly of the rotary buffer 6, and drives the shaft 3 through the medium of an endless belt and pulley unit, indicated at I0.

Rearwardly of the rotary brush 5 the machine includes another shaft II parallel to the shaft 3 and in substantially the same horizontal plane: the shaft II being relatively short and supported at opposite ends by bearing brackets I2. The shaft Il is driven from the shaft 3, at the end opposite the drive Ul, by an endless belt and pulley unit I3.

Intermediate the ends of shaft II, and directly to the rear of rotary brush 5, said shaft II is provided with a pair of splined hubs I4 slidable on said shaft and each including an enlarged, radially extending circular flange I5. A rectangular but elongated cake I6 of relatively hard wax-type polish is disposed between the flanges I5 generally tangential to the shaft I I, with at least one end of said cake projecting beyond the periphery of said flanges a distance sufficient to recurringly engage the bristles of rotary brush 5 upon rotation of said brush and the cake holding flanges I5. The cake I6 is clamped between the flanges I5 by a pair of cross bolts Il which extend across the cake on the outside. It will be seen that as the projecting end of the cake Wears down by engagement with the rotary brush 5, said cake may be adjusted and advanced upon loosening of the cross bolts Il, together with set screws IB which normally prevent sliding of the hubs I4 on said shaft I I.

The above described mechanism is enclosed within an upstanding hood I9 hinged, as at 20, at the front and adjacent opposite ends for upward and forward swinging movement to provide access to said mechanism for maintenance or repair; the hood normally being maintained against opening movement by means of a latch 2| at the back. The hood I9 is formed at the front with an access opening 22 of a sufficient height and width to expose the rotary brush 5 and rotary buier 6 for shoe engagement. At opposite ends of the access opening the hood includes inwardly projecting vertical side plates 23 which extend rearwardly to the shalt 3 adjacent but laterally inwardly of the bearing brackets 4.

A hand rail 24, which includes suitable supporting legs, is fixed in connection with the base 3 I adjacent the front thereof, said hand rail being provided sothat a patron can grasp the same to steady himself while using the machine Electric current is supplied to the motor 9 from a terminal box 25 by wires 26, one of said Wires leading to and having a coin-controlled time switch interposed therein; said switch being indicated generally at 21, and mounted on top the hood I9. The switch 21 is of conventional type and inclwdeszatcoin s1ide'28.

To use the 'above described machine, a. patron places a coin in the slide 28 and pushes the latter inwardly, which results in closing of the switch 21 and operation of the motor 9 for apredetermined length of time.

With the motor 9 driving the shaft'f3 the rotary brush and rotary buffer 5 are driven in .edirection turning downwardly at the front. The patron rst engages a shoe beneath the rotarybrush 5, which brush applies polish to the shoe; the :ramp-2 facilitating entry of the shoe through the ,ass opening 2-2. Thereafter the shoe is enagedfbeneath'the rotary buffer 6; the 2width and connai/ity of said buffer being such as to effec- .tvxlyipolish said shoe.

The switch 21 is adjusted -to permit the motor @to nun, upon the deposit of each coin, a time asuflcientfor shining a pair of shoes, and thereafter the switch 21 breaks the circuit and the machine ceases `:to operate.

1A fluorescent light 2B is mounted in the-'hood p-.illuminate the brush and buffer for night use.

Fromthe'foregoing description it will b e Vreadily 'seen that dahere `has been produced such a device :ass substantially lfulfills the objects of the invenittonas set ,forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the Epresent .and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A shoe shining machine comprising a, support, a horizontal shaft journaled in connection with the support, power means to rotate the shaft, a rotary polish applyingbmishion the shaft, means to supply polish to said brush, and a rotary buffer on the shaft; said polish supplying means comprising another driven shaft spaced from but Iparallel to the brush and buffer supporting shaft, a cake polish holder secured on said other shaft in radial alinement with the brush, and a cake of polish projecting from said holder for recurring engagement with the brush upOn rotation of said other shaft.

2. A shoe shining machine as in claim 1 in which said holder comprises spacedshubs on said other shaft, enlarged radial flanges-on'the ihnbs, the cake yof polish being disposed between 4and projecting beyond the periphery of 'the flanges for brush engagement, andfmeans'to adjustahy yclamp the cake between said'langes.

EUGENE ATHIEIJET.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED lSTA'IES PATENTS 

